Do I need a permit for a full bathroom remodel in
Naples, FL?

Your powder room has an existing pedestal sink, and you want to replace it with a new vanity cabinet and faucet, redo the wall tile, and repaint. The sink stays in the same location, the water supply and drain lines are not touched, and no electrical circuits are added. This is a surface-only cosmetic remodel and does NOT require a permit in Naples. You can pull the tile, install new cement-board backing if needed, apply new tile and grout, install the vanity, connect the new faucet (if you're comfortable with plumbing), and proceed without any city involvement. The only caveat: if your home was built before 1978 and the existing paint or tile adhesive contains lead, you should use lead-safe practices (wet-scraping, HEPA vacuuming) to avoid contamination. If you hire a contractor, they may recommend pulling a general-remodel permit for liability reasons (about $150–$300 in Naples), but it's not legally required for this scope. No inspections are needed. Timeline is contractor-dependent; permits are not a factor. Total cost: $2,000–$6,000 depending on vanity quality and tile selection, with no permit fees.

Your master bath has a soaking tub in an alcove, and you want to remove it and build a walk-in shower in that space, move the vanity and sink to the opposite wall (6 feet away), and install a new exhaust fan with a wall-cap duct terminating through the exterior wall. This project involves fixture relocation (toilet, sink, and new drain for the shower pan), new electrical circuits for the exhaust fan and vanity lighting, new framing for the relocated wall, new plumbing vents for the shower drain and relocated sink, a complete waterproofing membrane in the shower, and exhaust ducting with a damper. Naples Building Department will require a full permit with plumbing, electrical, and framing plans. Expect to submit a plot plan (site location), a floor plan showing the new layout with dimensions, a plumbing isometric drawing or schematic showing trap arm lengths and vent routing, an electrical single-line diagram showing the new 20-amp dedicated circuits for the sink and exhaust fan, a framing plan if walls are moved, a waterproofing detail showing the shower membrane system (e.g., cement board + liquid membrane, slope, and drain assembly), and an HVAC detail showing the exhaust fan CFM rating, duct diameter, insulation R-value, and wall-terminal location. The city's online portal will direct you to upload these PDFs; the plan-review cycle is typically 2–3 weeks, with a possible resubmit round if the waterproofing detail or vent routing doesn't meet code. Once approved, you'll receive a permit number and can begin demolition. Rough plumbing inspection occurs after the new drain lines are roughed in but before they're tested. Rough electrical inspection follows framing and before drywall. Waterproofing inspection (pre-tile) is critical: the inspector will verify the membrane is continuous, sealed at penetrations, and properly sloped. Final inspections occur after all fixtures are installed. Timeline: 2–5 weeks for plan review, plus 3–4 weeks for construction and inspections (shorter if you don't require resubmits). Permit fee: approximately $400–$800 depending on the job valuation (typically 1.5–2% of estimated construction cost, which might be $20,000–$30,000 for a full master-bath conversion in Naples, pushing the permit fee toward the higher end). This is a complex project requiring careful coordination between plumber, electrician, and framer.

Your guest bath has an old toilet and vanity that you want to replace in the same locations, and you're upgrading the exhaust fan (the existing duct to the soffit is staying put, but you're installing a new, higher-CFM fan unit). You're also retiling the shower surround (which exists) with new tile over the old substrate. The toilet and vanity are swapped in place (no new drains, no trap arm changes), and the exhaust fan is a like-for-like equipment swap. This project does NOT require a permit in Naples because no plumbing fixtures are relocated, no new electrical circuits are added (the fan is wired to the existing circuit, assuming it's adequate), and no walls are touched. You can proceed without city involvement. However, there are two important caveats: First, if the exhaust duct currently terminates into the attic or soffit (a common old-home issue), you should upgrade it to terminate to the outside air with a damper—the city won't inspect this if you don't pull a permit, but it's a code violation and a fire/mold hazard. If you want the city to bless the duct upgrade, you'd need to pull a permit for the HVAC work, which is a permit in Naples if any new ductwork is installed. Second, if you're retiling the shower surround and the original substrate is concrete or wood (not cement board), you should add a waterproofing membrane before the new tile—not required for a surface tile replacement in the code, but highly recommended in Naples' humidity. Since no new circuits are added, the 20-amp bathroom circuit is already in place (assuming the home is modern). If the exhaust fan is the same CFM and you're only swapping the motor/blade, it's a maintenance repair, not a permit item. If you're upgrading to a much higher CFM (e.g., 50 to 120 CFM) and the duct is already sized for the old fan, you may need to upsize the duct or add a booster fan—that triggers a permit. In this scenario, assuming a same-CFM fan swap, no permit is needed. Timeline: 2–3 days for contractor work. Cost: $400–$1,200 for the toilet, vanity, fan, and tile, with no permit fees.